Return of durable Lynch may be catalyst Hull need

The ex-England prop sat out Good Friday’s derby defeat against Hull KR after falling ill on the eve of the game.

Lynch, one of the most durable players in Super League, had not missed a match for almost three years so you can understand his frustration at missing out on such an important fixture by something as rudimentary as sickness.

Only Leeds Rhinos and England captain Kevin Sinfield (86) plus Hull team-mate Tom Briscoe (81) had made more than his 76 consecutive games.

He was ever-present for Hull last term after joining from Bradford Bulls, playing all 29 Super League fixtures, with his run stretching back to 2010 and his time at Odsal.

However, Lynch was forced to watch the KC game on television and was left helpless as Rovers got on top to secure their 100th derby win and inflict more misery on his side’s stuttering season.

“I’ve started eating again so I’ll be alright for Monday’s game,” he said.

“It’s always disappointing missing out and I never realised it was some sort of record.

“You always want to play in every game, but especially the derby with it being at home in front of 20,000 people.

“It was so frustrating especially being sat at home just watching it on the telly not being to help influence that game.”

As Rovers eased to a 23-10 win, Lynch recalled: “I started being sick at 11 o’clock Thursday night and didn’t stop until eight the next day.

“I rang Pete (Gentle) as I knew I wouldn’t be able to play.

“If you’re sat at a desk all day in an office you could probably bypass it and get by.

“But when you’re supposed to be running about and being strong you know it’s no good. You can’t hide. I got out of bed just before kick-off.

“It was frustrating for me, but it must be even more frustrating for the fans who pay their hard-earned money to come watch us play week-in, week-out yet we’ve not been performing for them.

“We need to rectify that pretty soon and get the fans’ faith back.”

Hull coach Gentle is, understandably, coming under heat for the first time since joining the club late in 2011 and is acutely aware of the need for a swift response.

Lynch’s return will aid Hull’s hopes of gaining the upper-hand in the middle and perhaps making life easier for whoever does take their problematic half-back role, Richard Horne likely to switch from full-back.

They are still missing five first-team regulars, but, with just two wins all season, Lynch accepts the players are the only ones who can alleviate the pressure.

“Everyone can go on about injuries or half-backs being out, but we had a squad here at the start of the year capable of performing,” added the 33-year-old.

“We’ve got 33 players all capable of playing first-team football.

“We can’t make excuses for all under-performing and not reaching our potential.

“When a teams are going well it’s the players who get all the credit.

“When it’s a few bad performances together it’s always the coach who gets the blame.

“He (Gentle) never gets praise for what he does, but he gives us the game plan and if we execute it right we should be in with a chance of winning every match.

“We’re just not doing it right at the moment and we need to start playing for 80 minutes.”

There will be no sanctuary at Wakefield who are, of course, led by Gentle’s predecessor Richard Agar. It may not hold the same gravitas as a game against their fiercest rivals, but Trinity, nonetheless, are a significant challenge in their own right and are desperate to get their own season up and running.

Hull will be mindful they fell there 32-30 last June and equally aware that their hosts’ Good Friday win over Castleford Tigers – a first victory in five – will have given them a timely lift.

“Not only did we lose there last year, but we were 18-0 up, too, and they came from behind to beat us,” said Lynch.

“They’ll be confident from that and that derby win over Castleford too.

“In many ways it’s another derby for them. There’s Rich (Agar) at Wakefield, some ex-Hull lads and plenty of former Rovers players too.

“I think it’ll be more physical than it was against Hull KR.”

Among the former Hull players now in Wakefield colours are loose forward Danny Washbrook and Reece Lyne, the centre who has impressed since being released by Gentle at the end of last season.

Of course, there are former Hull KR stars too, such as Peter Fox, Ben Cockayne, Frankie Mariano and Andy Raleigh.